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"Forever 1963": Witnesses recall the day JFK died

Nov. 20 - Eyewitnesses recall the fateful day John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated. Pavithra George reports.

TRANSCRIPT +

I'm I'm kind of in a warm -- November 22 1963. America's 35 president John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqui receive a warm reception in Dallas. A festive scene that could soon take a sudden -- none. Hard enough vertical Belgrade will be only a matter of minutes. Before you write that the great heart. -- -- -- former -- that can and the media in Dallas it looked as though the entire city had turned out. There was really -- in. Dallas had showed that it really loved that present. Yes only then -- WFAN radio join the cheering crowds at dealey plaza. I didn't even notice -- -- -- -- in the -- geologist absolutely. Captivated. By. Jackie who is nearest trees on the left side to me and present on the others. That's what a first couple -- so -- line. -- of the freeway look -- back. Spectators waiting that's the -- the president. And I was carried away and -- about something like. Welcome to Dallas Mr. President and then they turned the corner. At first that first shot that so. Shall we don't forget. Good both nothing has had some reports say it's good. It's something I would -- about whether -- Thirteen year old Tina -- was filming the motorcade for the father's movie camera. And us the first gunshot sounded I looked up at the building thinking somebody was throwing firecrackers. The windows. But only a split second I only have a split second before some stranger and I still don't that was pulled me down into the ground. The doctor Barbara also as bad as far as the there -- -- -- but -- book report here at. Kennedy was hit in the neck in the head and was rushed to Auckland hospital. Doctor John -- one of the surgeons that operated on the wounded president. The president was on a stretcher. His arms around on armed boards but the president was motionless. I never saw any movement his eyes were open and in a fixed stare. President Kennedy. -- -- about it -- -- official the president had been dead. This city. Had gone silent. Still. And that lasted through Sunday. That community was going through. And soul searching process maybe unlike any American can. Janice -- -- let's says the assassination transformed the city. At the time we had nobody of color no black program -- nobody ocean governmental. And even making any major decisions. That's the change like that because we've got so much heat we've got so much. Your region we -- too much attack. But for some eyewitnesses time has stood still. It doesn't seem like fifteen years at all. When you come down here. Forever 1963. Fifty years later Dallas profess to believe that fateful day in dealey plaza with a memorial service. An unusual step for a city that has sought to shun publicity for backed off day.

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